Volunteer Orientation

Volunteer Orientation is mandatory for all new volunteers. To maintain active status, all volunteers must attend annual training or orientation once a year.

Our volunteer orientation covers an introduction to and overview of Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, the Commit for Life program, the patients that we help, volunteer opportunities, policies and procedures, safety and the donor experience. Bilingual volunteers are always needed.

To receive the orientation dates, please complete the form below and you will be contacted within three business days. Before filling the Volunteer Orientation form, please read the volunteer qualifications at right.

Volunteer Orientation

All questions required

First name

Last name

Birthday

Phone number

Email address

What motivated you to select Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center as a place to volunteer?

Do you have any volunteering experience?

YesNo

If yes, what have you enjoyed most about your previous volunteer work? Were there any volunteer experiences you did not enjoy, and if so, why?

Do you have any special skills you would like to utilize as a volunteer? If so, what are they?

Do you prefer:

Working independentlyWorking in a group

Describe a situation in which you were able to influence the actions of others positively

Volunteer Qualifications

Minimum Age: 12 years old. Those ages 12 to 14 must be accompanied by a trained parent or guardian at all activities. Those ages 15 to 17 can volunteer with parental consent.

Orientation and training: All new volunteers must attend Volunteer Orientation. To maintain active status, all volunteers must attend annual training or orientation once a year.

Reliable transportation: Volunteers must provide their own transportation to and from all volunteer assignments, orientation and annual trainings.

Email access: All information about the volunteer program is communicated via email.

Volunteers should be dependable and friendly!

We do not accept volunteer phlebotomists or court-ordered community service.

Blood Center News

I am an unashamed fan of Wonder Woman. Family members reminisced about how I used to wrap a towel around my neck and run around the house singing the “Woman Woman” theme song. (No, that wasn’t a typo. My ability to get song lyrics wrong was apparent even at the young ages of 3 and 4.)

I was excited last summer to meet Shelley and her daughter, Courtney. The two were full of laughter and fun when Shelley came into our office for a photo shoot. Shelley is one of our long-time dedicated donors. She’s got that kind of giving spirit, and we were thrilled to capture a few photos of her.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to help save more lives than ever in 2019. But those automated donations can take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. Mine, in particular, lean more toward the hour-and-a-half territory. What’s a girl to do? Watch Netflix movies and donate. And because I’m so thankful for your willingness to help us save lives, here are my top five recommendations for January.

One of the best parts of the Holiday Hugs tradition is reading the notes our donors write for patients in the hospital over the holidays. It’s not an easy task as each patient has his or her own individual circumstance, so we’re restricted in which cards we tie to each bear. Still, many of our donors are well up to the task.

I learned something the other day. Every day, someone’s life is being saved. I know that seems obvious, but let that sink in. What may be a normal Thursday for most could be something completely different for someone else. And that’s exactly what happened to donor Gary Gilson. Aug. 16 was one of the most important moments in Gary’s life. Not only did he save lives that day, but someone else saved the life of his loved one, as well.

A 3-year-old girl lies in a hospital bed in the middle of the room with monitors attached to her bare chest. She’s awake, but she doesn’t lift her head as we walk into the room. Still, she follows us with her eyes. The only sound we hear from her is a small cough while a nurse comes in to check her stats.

Blood transfusion is one treatment used to combat complications from sickle cell disease, a form of anemia most likely to affect people of African descent. Prince and her now 27-year-old daughter, Quannecia McCruse, founded the Sickle Cell Association of Houston years ago to educate and provide resources to the community.

Penny, a local teacher with some free time over the summer, has helped us kick off our new Volunteer Driver program. Are you interested in joining us in our mission to save lives? Call us at (713) 791-6262 or email volunteering@giveblood.org.

I’m a scaredy-cat. I readily admit it. I hate needles. That’s always been my excuse for why I don’t volunteer for anything with a needle. Flu shot? No way. Vaccines? I still remember the sheer terror I felt from them growing up.

CYPRESS – There is nothing more American than baseball and saving lives. Everyone who participates in The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s Home Run for Life competition will get a chance at both through June 30.

Here at The Blood Center, we pride ourselves on being an organization of diversity. We work together to save and sustain lives, and we each bring a unique perspective when it comes to fulfilling our mission.

Hurricane Harvey destroyed homes, cars and many other things, but one thing it couldn’t destroy is the compassion for others in newlywed couple Gilbert and Stefanie Cruz. Gilbert and Stefanie were set to get married just a few days after Harvey passed, but due the storm’s aftermath they had to alter all of their plans on a moment’s notice.

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center has partnered with two local agencies providing emergency medical services to help save more lives when time is of the essence, now administering whole blood to patients on the ground.

The Lone Star Circle of Life bike tour visits Texas cities to raise awareness of the need for blood, marrow, organ and tissue donations to honor those impacted by these donation types. This year’s eight-day, 600-mile tour included stops in Houston and College Station.